与动物有关谚语的翻译

动物比喻（Animal  Metaphors）在英汉两种语言中均有广泛的使用，它使语言生气勃勃，形象鲜明。然而，由于文化背景、思维方式的不同，人们对动物比喻的正确理解和翻译存有障碍。从翻译的角度总体说来，动物比喻可以分为两大类：

一类是：译语与原语存在对应的关系，使动物形象再现成为可能。根据两种语言在意义、形象或风格上的相似性，翻译时可采用同值、近值互借法，以再现原语形象。例如：

1．What a dull speech! He's merely parroting what many others have

said.多么单调乏味的讲话！他不过是鹦鹉学舌，重复许多人说过的话而已。

2． A wolf in sheep's clothing　披着羊皮的狼

3． One swallow does not make a summer.孤燕不成夏。

4． He is as sly as a fox. You've got to watch  him.他狡猾得像个狐狸。对他你可要当心点儿。

5． You stupid ass! How could you do a thing like that?　你这头蠢驴！怎么会干出那种事儿来？

6． The children were as busy as bees, making preparations for the festival.孩子们准备过节忙得像蜜蜂一样。

另一类是：同一动物形象在原语和译语中的语用意义相去甚远，甚至完全相悖。因此，在翻译过程中就出现了动物形象名称的转换。这种动物形象的转换可以是一种动物形象转换为另一种动物形象。例如：

1． Talk horse.吹牛。（horse译为“牛”）

2． Ass in a lion's skin.狐假虎威。（ass译为“狐”，lion译为“虎”）

3． Black sheep.害群之马。（sheep译为“马”）

4． Lock the stable door after the horse is stolen.亡羊补牢。（horse译为“羊”）

5． Cast pearls before swine.对牛弹琴。（swine译为“牛”）

6． When the cat is away, the mice will play.山中无老虎，猴子称大王。（cat译为“老虎”，mice译为“猴子”）

7． As hungry as a bear.饿得像狼。（bear译为“狼”）

8． Kill the goose that lays the golden eggs.杀鸡取卵。（goose译为“鸡”）

9． As timid as a hare.胆小如鼠。（hare充为“鼠”）

10．Neither fish, flesh nor fowl.非驴非马。（fish, flesh译为“驴”owl译为“马”）

11．Break a fly upon the wheel.杀鸡用牛刀。（fly译为“鸡”）

1. Cat

(1) A cat has nine lives.猫有九条命；吉人天相。

(2) Cats hide their claws. 知人知面不知心。

(3) All cats are grey in the dark.黑暗之中猫都是灰色的。(人未出名时看起来都差不多。)

(4) A gloved cat catches no mice.戴手套的猫，老鼠抓不到。(不愿吃苦的人成不了大事业。)

(5) When the weasel and the cat make a marriage, it is a very ill presage. 黄鼠狼和猫结亲，不是好事情。

(6) Who will bell the cat? 谁去给猫系铃？(谁愿意为大家冒风险？)

(7) The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. 猫偷吃奶油的时候总是闭着眼睛。(掩耳盗铃)

(8) There are more ways of killing a cat than by

choking it with butter. 杀猫的办法很多。(达到目的的途径很多。)

(9) Care kill a cat. 忧虑愁死猫。

2.Bird

(1) Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕；一举两得。

(2) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。

(3) Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚，人以群分。

(4) It’s an ill bird that fouls own nest. 家丑不可外扬。

(5) Fine feathers make fine birds. 人要衣装，马要鞍。

(6) A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk. 听音识鸟，闻言识人。

(7) Each bird loves to hear himself sing.鸟儿都爱听自己唱。(自我欣赏)

(8) You cannot catch old birds with chaff.(粗糠).用粗糠捉不住老鸟。(有经验的人难骗。)

(9) Birds in their little nests agree. 同巢之鸟心儿齐。

3. Chicken

(1) Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.鸡蛋未孵出，先别数小鸡。(不要过早乐观。)

4. Crow

(1) A crow is never the whiter for washing herself often. 江山易改，本性难移。

5. Dog

(1) He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is mad. 欲加之罪，何患无词.

(2) A staff is quickly found to beat a dog with.欲加之罪，何患无词.

(3) Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌.

(4) Too much pudding will choke a dog. 布丁太多噎死狗。

(5) Every dog has his day. 人人皆有得意时。

(6) Barking dogs don’t (seldom) bite. 爱叫的狗很少咬人。

(7) Let sleeping dogs lie. 勿惹事生非。

(8) Dead dogs bite not. 死狗不咬人。

(9) All are not thieves that dogs bark at.狗见了叫的不一定都是贼。(不要以貌取人。)

(10) Every dog is a lion at home. 狗在家门口就成了狮子。

(11) Don’t be a dog (lying) in the manger.莫学狗占马槽不吃草。(不要占着茅坑不拉屎。)

(12) Dog does not eat dog. 同类不相残。

(13) Scornful dogs will eat dirty puddings.狗再傲慢也会吃脏布丁。

(14) A son never thinks his mother ugly,and a dog never shuns its owner’s home however shabby it is.儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫。

1.Bird

(1) Kill two birds with one stone. 一箭双雕；一举两得。

(2) A bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.双鸟在林不如一鸟在手。

(3) Birds of a feather flock together. 物以类聚，人以群分。

(4) It’s an ill bird that fouls own nest. 家丑不可外扬。

(5) Fine feathers make fine birds. 人要衣装，马要鞍。

(6) A bird is known by its note, and a man by his talk.听音识鸟，闻言识人。

(7) Each bird loves to hear himself sing.鸟儿都爱听自己唱。（自我欣赏）

(8) You cannot catch old birds with chaff.(粗糠).用粗糠捉不住老鸟。（有经验的人难骗。）

(9) Birds in their little nests agree. 同巢之鸟心儿齐。

(10)a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.一鸟在手胜于二鸟在林；珍惜现在拥有的。

(11)like a bird.毫无困难的；一帆风顺的。

2. Cat

(1) A cat has nine lives.猫有九条命；吉人天相。

(2) Cats hide their claws. 知人知面不知心。

(3) All cats are grey in the dark..黑暗之中猫都是灰色的。（人未出名时看起来都差不多。）

(4) A gloved cat catches no mice.戴手套的猫，老鼠抓不到。（不愿吃苦的人成不了大事业。）

(5) When the weasel and the cat make a marriage, it is a very ill presage. 黄鼠狼和猫结亲，不是好事情。）

(6) Who will bwll the cat? 谁去给猫系铃？（谁愿意为大家冒风险？）

(7) The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream.帽偷吃奶油的时候总是闭着眼睛。（掩耳盗铃）

(8) There are more ways of killing a cat than by choking it with butter. 杀猫的办法很多。（达到目的的途径很多。）

(9)The cat shuts its eyes when stealing cream. 掩耳盗铃:猫偷吃奶油的时候,总是闭着眼睛。(观察一下)

(10)The scalded cat fears cold water.  一朝被蛇咬,三年怕井绳。(被烫过的猫,连冷水也怕)

(11)When the cat's away, the mice will play.  猫儿不在,老鼠成精(大王外出,小鬼跳粱)。

(12) Care kill a cat. 忧虑愁死猫。

3. Chicken

(1)   Don’t count your chickens before they’re hatched.鸡蛋未孵出，先别数小鸡。（不要过早乐观。）

(2)   Break a fly upon the wheel.杀鸡用牛刀。（fly译为“鸡”）

4. Crow

(1) A crow is never the whiter for washing herself  often. 江山易改，本性难移。

5. Dog

(1) He who would hang his dog gives out first that it is  mad. 欲加之罪，何患无词.

(2) A staff is quickly found to beat a dog with. 欲加之罪，何患无词.

(3) Love me, love my dog. 爱屋及乌.

(4) Too much pudding will choke a dog. 布丁太多噎死狗。

(5) Every dog has his day. 人人皆有得意时。

(6) Barking dogs don’t (seldom) bite. 爱叫的狗很少咬人。

(7) Let sleeping dogs lie. 勿惹事生非。

(8) Dead dogs bite not. 死狗不咬人。

(9) All are not thieves that dogs bark at.狗见了叫的不一定都是贼。（不要以貌取人。）

(10) Every dog is a lion at home. 狗在家门口就成了狮子。

(11) Don’t be a dog (lying) in the manger.莫学狗占马槽不吃草。（不要占着茅坑不拉屎。）

(12) Dog does not eat dog. 同类不相残。

(13) Scornful dogs will eat dirty puddings. 狗再傲慢也会吃脏布丁。

(14) A son never thinks his mother ugly,and a dog never shuns its owner’s home however shabby it is.儿不嫌母丑，狗不嫌家贫。

(15)The poet died like a dog. 这位诗人潦倒而死。

(16)You are a lucky dog. 你真是个幸运儿。

(17)My boss is a jolly dog. 我的老板是个风趣的家伙。

(18)Every dog has his day. 凡人都有得意时。

(19)The film must be a real dog. 这部电影一定很糟糕。

(20)Give a dog a bad (an ill) name (and hang him). 　人言可畏。

(21)Barking dogs seldom bite.吠犬不咬人（意指：对于高声发出恐吓，或惯于大声吼叫的人，勿须当真）。

(22)Every dog has his day.凡人皆有得意日（意指：大家都有走运的一天）。

(23)Dog does not eat dog.同类不相残；同室不操戈

(24)Scornful (Hungry) dogs will eat dirty puddings. 　急不暇择,饥不择食。

(25)love me, love my dog. 　爱屋及乌。

(26)Every dog has his day. 　凡人皆有得意日。

(27)Beware of a silent dog and still water.　提防不吠的狗,小心静止的水。

(28)A staff [stick] is quickly [soon] found to beat a dog with.　欲加之罪,何患无辞。

(29)Barking dogs seldom bite.　爱叫的狗不咬人。(咬人的狗不露齿。)

(30)Every dog is a lion at home. 　狗是百步王,只在门前凶。

(31)put on the dog.炫耀；摆阔。

(32)Dog does not eat dog.同类不相残，同时不操戈

(33)treat sb. like a dog不把某人当人看

(34)a hunting dog猎犬

(35)a lazy dog懒汉

(36)a gay dog一个快乐的人

(37)a dirty dog下流坯

(38)dog-days n.[pl.]三伏天, 大热天; 无所作为的时期, 无精打彩的日子

(39)A good dog deserves a good bone.[谚]好狗应该啃好骨头, 有功者受赏。

(40)A living dog is better than a dead lion.[谚]死狮不如活狗。

(41)A staff [stick] is quickly [soon] found to beat a dog with.[谚]欲加之罪, 何患无辞。

(42)An old dog barks not in vain.[谚]老狗不乱吠; 老狗 一吠, 就得小心。

(43)An old dog will learn no new tricks. (=You cannot teach old dogs new tricks.)[谚]老狗学不了新把戏; 老年人很难适应新事物。

(44)as [like] a dog with two tails非常开心[高兴]

(45)a (case of) dog eat dog.残酷的竞争；自相残杀。

(46)Beware of a silent dog and still water.[谚]提防不吠的狗, 小心 静止的水。

(47)come like a dog at a whistle一呼即来

(48)Every dog is a lion at home. [Every dog is valiant at his own door.][谚]狗是百步王, 只在门前凶。

(49)Fight dog, fight bear.[谚]打个青红皂白, 一决雌雄。

(50)Give a dog a bad [an ill] name(and hang him).[谚]一旦给人加一个坏名声, 他就永远洗刷不掉; 人言可畏。

(50)It is ill to waken sleeping dogs. [let sleeping dogs lie; don't wake a sleeping dog.]

别多事, 别惹麻烦。

(51)lead a dog's life过着牛马不如的生活

6. Frog

(1) The frog in the well knows nothing of the great  ocean. 井底之蛙，不知大海。

7. Fox

(1) The fox may grow grey, but never good.

狐狸毛色可变灰，但是本性难移。

(2) The fox preys farthest from his hole.

狐狸捕食，远离洞府。（兔子不吃窝边草。）

(3) When the fox preaches, then take care of your geese.

每当狐狸说教，当心鹅群被盗。

(4) When the fox says he is a vegetarian, it’s time for the hen to look out. 狐狸说它吃素的时候，母鸡就得注意。

8. Fish

(1) The best fish swim near the bottom. 好鱼常在水底游。

(2) Never offer to teach fish to swim. 不要班门弄斧。

(3) Go to the sea, if you would fish well. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子。

(4) There’s as good fish in the sea as ever came out of it. 海里的好鱼多的是。

(5) It is a silly fish that is caught twice with the   same bait. 智者不上两次档。

(6) If water is noisy, there are no fish in it.咆哮的水中无鱼。（夸夸其谈者无真才实学。）。

9. Hare

(1) You cannot run with the hare and hunt with the hounds(猎狗). 不能既和野兔一起跑又和猎狗一起追。（人不应两面讨好。）

(2) The tortoise wins the race while the hare is   sleeping. 兔子睡懒觉，乌龟跑赢了。

10. Horse

(1) You can take a horse to the water, but you can’t make him drink. 带马到河边容易，逼马饮水难。

(2) Don’t ride the high horse. 勿摆架子。

(3) A good horse cannot be of a bad colour. 好马不会毛色差。

(4) A horse may stumble on four feet. 马有四条腿，亦有失蹄时。

(5) A running horse needs no spur. 奔马无需鞭策。

(6) Don’t put the cart before the horse.不要将大车套在马前面。（处理问题应按先后次序，不要本末倒置。）

(7) The common horse is worst shod. 公用之马，掌子最差。

(8) Lock the barn door after the horse is stolen.失马之后锁马厩。（亡羊补牢）

(9) Don’t look a gift horse in the mouth. 馈赠之马，勿看牙口。

(10) Hair by hair you will pull out the horse’s tail.一根一根拔，拔光马尾巴。（水滴石穿）

hold one’s horse.等一下；忍耐，控制自己的热情等。

11 . Mouse

(1) It is a poor mouse that has only one hole. 狡兔三窟。

(2) The mouse that has but one hole is quickly taken.只有一个洞的老鼠，很快就被抓住。

(3) A speck of mouse dung will spoil a whole pot of  porridge. 一粒老鼠屎，坏了一锅粥。

12. Sheep

(1) If one sheep leaps over the ditch, all the rest will follow. 榜样的力量是无穷的。

(2) A lazy sheep thinks its wool heavy. 懒羊嫌毛重。

(3) He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf. 甘心做绵羊，必然喂豺狼。

(4)As well be hanged for a sheep as a lamb.偷羊偷羔都是绞（死）；偷大偷小统是贼（意指：一不做，二不休）。

(5)There’s a black sheep in every flock.每一羊群里都会有一只黑羊，丑儿子家家有（意指：每个家里都会有个败家子。）

(6)He that makes himself a sheep shall be eaten by the wolf.甘心做绵羊，早晚喂豹狼（人弱受人欺）。

(7)The sheep who talks peace with a wolf will soon be mutton.羊向狼乞求和平，很快就会变成羊肉（意指，切勿向敌人乞求和平）

13.Swallow

(1) One swallow does not make a spring. 孤燕不报春。

(2) One swallow does not make a summer. 一燕不成夏。

14. Tiger

(1) If you don’t enter a tiger’s den, you can’t get his  cubs. 不入虎穴，焉得虎子。

15. Wolf

(1) Don’t trust a goat with the kitchen-garden,or a wolf with sheepfold. 不能请羊管菜园，不能请狼管羊圈。

(2) Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl.和狼在一起，就会学狼叫。

(3) Man is a wolf to man. 人对人是狼。（人心狠，人吃人）

(3)   A growing youth has a wolf in his belly.年轻人，在成长，吃起饭来像饿狼

(4) Don’t trust a goat with the kitchen-garden,or a wolf with sheepfold. 不能请羊管菜园，不能请狼管羊圈。

(5) Who keeps company with wolves, will learn to howl.和狼在一起，就会学狼叫。

(6) Man is a wolf to man. 人心狠，人吃人

一箭双雕kill two birds with one stone

指鹿为马Calling a Stag a Horse

谈虎色变Turn pale at the mention of a tiger

老马识途An Old Horse Knows the Way

闻鸡起舞Sword Practice at Cock-Crow

鼠目寸光be shortsighted

金蝉脱壳escape unnoticed

飞禽走兽birds and beasts